Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DekDakar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DekDakar’, characterized by its anemone-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar DekDakar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘DekDakar’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jan. 28, 2001, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 5003,46, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum selection identified as code number 5003,61, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since October, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar DekDakar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DekDakar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DekDakar’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Anemone-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray         florets and darker yellow-colored disc florets; typically grown         as a spray type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger leaves, flower earlier and have larger inflorescences. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent selection differ in inflorescence form and ray floret coloration as plants of the female parent have daisy-type inflorescences with orange-colored ray florets.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have lighter green-colored leaves and flower faster. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection differ in inflorescence form and ray floret coloration as plants of the male parent have daisy-type inflorescences and red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Annecy Dark Yellow, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,890. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Annecy Dark Yellow in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than         plants of the cultivar Annecy Dark Yellow.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Annecy Dark Yellow.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Annecy Dark         Yellow differed in ray floret coloration.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Cappa Yellow. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Cappa Yellow in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were not as vigorous as         plants of the cultivar Cappa Yellow.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more uniform than plants         of the cultivar Cappa Yellow.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the cultivar Cappa Yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DekDakar’.

The photograph at the bottom left of the sheet comprises a close-up view of upper surface of a typical inflorescence and a typical leaf of ‘DekDakar’.

The photograph at the bottom right of the sheet comprises a close-up view of lower surface of a typical inflorescence and a typical leaf of ‘DekDakar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 22° C., night temperatures were about 18.5° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about twelve weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     DekDakar. -   Commercial classification: Anemone type Chrysanthemum typically     grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 5003,46,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 5003,61,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous anemone type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a spray type; erect and strong flowering             stems.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate; moderately vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Branching             habit: Plants are typically grown as single stems. Color:             146B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 8             to 9 cm. Width: About 6 to 7 cm. Apex: Mucronate. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Pinnately lobed; serrate. Texture, upper             and lower surface: Pubescent. Petiole length: About 2.5 to             3 cm. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Closest to             137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded             foliage, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper surface: 146A.             Venation, lower surface: 147B. Petiole: 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Anemone type inflorescence form with             lanceolate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Not fragrant. Typically grown as             a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 47 to 49 days later. Early and uniform flowering             response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 13 to             15 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 2.5 cm. Diameter of disc: About 3 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About             9 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 138A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded to acute. Base: Fused, short             corolla tube. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 22. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: 3A. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: 6C.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; enlarged. Length: About 7 to             18 mm. Width: About 1 to 3 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 200. Color: Immature: 144B to 144C.             Mature: Apex: 6A. Mid-section: 6C. Base: 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 9.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DekDakar’, as illustrated and described. 